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2019 Marcel Deiss Riesling, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is their basic Riesling.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with some citrus, honeydew and minerality.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is dry.  Melon with minerals and a bit of salinity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  This will work with almost any food.  Try it with fried chicken.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

The definition of a "pretty" Pinot Noir.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is feminine/elegant with cherries, slight plums, spices and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Wispy tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, cherries, some black cherries and spice with slight char and minerality.  Long finish.  This is lovely on its own, but even better with food.  It went great with Cauliflower steaks but would work well with Salmon steaks as well.  Drink over the next ten years.

2019 Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grosse Lage STK Zieregg, Austrian Sudsteiermark, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Wow.  One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I have drank.  Pale yellow/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with slight tropical fruits along with an assortment of herbs and lots of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated and in no way over blown.  Plenty going on though.  Lots of  minerality with some tropical fruits.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this is very food friendly.  It worked great with Pasta Aioli.  Drink over the next five to ten years.

2015 Masciarelli Marina Cvetić Iskra, Italy, Abruzzo, Colline Teramane DOCG, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is made from a single vineyard of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.  Gianni Masciarelli and Marina Cvetic are a husband and wife team in southern Italy (she is from Serbia).  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, some black cherries, smoke and thyme.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has some depth and complexity.  Flavors of cherries with thyme and anise.  A bit of char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Lasagna or a Beef Ragu would work well.  Drink over the next five to eight ye

2018 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$370.00USD

Another amazing Materium.  This is arguably the best Cabernet made in Napa (and yes, there are other contenders).  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose is great with cassis, tobacco, sandalwood, baking spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lush, lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Every sip gets better.  It is deep but still young and tight.  Flavors of cassis, with some earthy tobacco notes.  Long finish.  This will get better but it is virtually all one could want in a young Cab.  Give it a bit of a decant if drinking soon.  Great on its ow

2003 Château Léoville Poyferré, France Bordeaux, Saint Julian, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

This was a brutally hot vintage and winemakers had to deal with over ripeness from the heat and under ripeness from the vines shutting down.  Yet, some did make wonderful wines and this is one.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, cigar box, spice and smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good, lively acidity.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Deep with layers of cassis, tobacco and spice and some char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but should go another ten years.  Great on its own but better with food.  T

2017 J. Denuzière Crozes-Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$41.00USD

This is a very nice Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley.  Purple  in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, roasted meats, slight floral tones and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is more middle of the road in style for a Syrah.  Flavors of black raspberries with some roasted meats and minerality.  Nice finish.  Nice on its own, this will be a bit better with food.  It would work well with burgers or ribs off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2018 Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Archimedes, USA, California, Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, tobacco, slight graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this drinks well.  Flavors of cassis, plums with some tobacco and char.  Good finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work nicely with beef dishes.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2008 Azienda Agricola Montevetrano Montevetrano Colli di Salerno IGT, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$84.00USD

Great showing.  This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, dried cherries, herbal notes, forest floor and spice.  Complex.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex.  Lots of fresh cherries and black cherries with some tobacco, leather and spice.  Long finish.  This is close to or at peak.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Roasted poultry should work well.  Drink over the ne

2004 Cafaggio Villa Cafaggio Cortaccio Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.  At age twenty it is fully mature and seemingly at peak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries,  dried cherries, spice, forest floor and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Fresh and dried cherries, tobacco, forest floor and char.  Good finish.  This is better with food.  It would work well with a nice plate of pasta.  Drink up.

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